[3] Peter W. James grew up in Sutton Coldfield, which was then a rural suburb of Birmingham and his interests in natural history and exploring the countryside were encouraged by his older sister.
[2][3] In 1955 he was employed by London's Natural History Museum initially as a summer student and then as a lichen specialist.
He built up the lichen collections to be a major international resource as well as expanding the expertise and collaborations within the museum.
His influence was felt by the lichenologists Oliver Gilbert, David Hawksworth, Mark Seaward, Pat Wolseley and Brian Fox.
He was a founder member, acting treasurer and first president of the International Association for Lichenology and co-ordinated its first field meeting in the Austrian Alps in 1971.
[2] He also led visits and expeditions in the UK and abroad including to temperate South America as well as Australia, New Zealand, North Greenland and the Atlantic islands.
[6][7] His interest in the effects of air quality on lichens began in the 1970, particularly after a visit to an aluminium smelter on Anglesey.
[2] James was the author or co-author of several scientific publications that made significant advances to the knowledge of lichen morphology, taxonomy and community ecology.
[11] James was also a collector of UK stamps, specialising in those from the Edwardian period to King George V and of cacti.